One of my favourite feathered friends is the African penguin or also known as the Cape penguin. You will find this species on the coastline of my beloved country South Africa.
Visiting South Africa a must on the bucket list is a stopover in Simons Town where you will find Boulders beach which is part of the well-known Table Mountain National Park. Boulders is known not only for the huge boulders in and out of the ocean but for the penguin colony it hosts since 1982.
Some facts on the African penguin;
- In their Latin name Spheniscus demersus the “demersus” which means “dive” refers to the diving ability of these penguins
- Like most penguins they are black and white in colour but what makes them different is the black curled stripe over their white chest and down the side of their bodies
- They are known for their aerodynamic or streamlined shape and wings which assist them in being such good swimmers
- You will find them in large colonies from where they then also breed
- The donkey like noise they make cannot be missed therefor they are also often referred to as the “Jackass Penguin”
Due to the numerous factors African penguin is now not only an endangered species but in South Africa also a protected species;
- Depleting of food – over fishing
- Oil spills
- Pollution around the coastal lines
The African penguin needs our help!
Let’s see how many penguins you can find in the following two photos;
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Thank you for @strawberrry for organizing this competition.
@strawberrry/sontest-photos-of-feathered-friends-week-4
